Your Mail 4-8-14: Facts, but no proof ... 'Your idea of utopia'?

Facts, but no proof

Christianity is a fact. It can be proven to exist via science. The Book of Genesis is a fact. It can be proven to exist via science. While both of these can be scientifically proven to exist, what they stand for or try to convey is debatable. One thing about them that is also a fact is that they have to be taken on faith to be believed. Basing a belief on faith is completely the opposite of the scientific method, so there is no common ground.

Evolution is a fact. It can be proven to exist via science. Darwin's Theory of Evolution is a fact. It can be proven to exist via science. While both of these can be scientifically proven to exist, what they stand for or try to convey is debatable. One thing about them that is also a fact is that they have to be continually challenged and tested to be believed. There are other theories of evolution besides Darwin's, and they are also challenged and tested. They are not as famous as Darwin's theory which is based on natural selection.

Did humans evolve as has every other organism, or did God will everything into sudden existence? I don't have an undeniable answer to that question, but what I can say is that evolution is occurring now - that's why we need new antibiotics or bug killers on a regular basis. All living things have genes that contain the same DNA strands; we are all related. Does God continue to will things into sudden existence? I don't have any proof, and neither does anyone else.

Phil Bradley, Elm Grove

'Your idea of utopia'?

Reductio ad absurdum, also known as argumentum ad absurdum, is a form of argument which seeks to demonstrate that a statement is true by showing that a false, untenable or absurd result follows from its acceptance.

In an Aug. 26, 2012, article titled "Why Free Markets," Stephen Mauzy makes the following argument: Welfare is best raised when people are most free to exchange without interference; only you know what's best for you.

In actuality economies of scale are what has made the modern world possible. The cost associated with making 10 of a certain product might be $1; the cost of producing 10 million will be considerably less, thereby making those practicing economies of scale will by necessity destroy all other entities in the field. XYZ Co. need only discover the ore it needs for its product at 1 cent a ton cheaper and every other corporation in that field will be lost overnight.

If one corporation on Earth making all the cars and one store selling them is your idea of utopia, then by all means advocate for a completely unfettered free market. There will, however, remain an arts and crafts market, so there's that.

Damian R. Brumley, Montgomery

Send letters

Letters to the editor are welcome. Letters may be up to 200 words long and should be original to the sender. All letters are subject to editing for length, grammar, style and libel.